According to *ME Construction News report, a pipeline which connects Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Qwain, Sharjah and Ajman has been commissioned by private utility company Utico. The $100m pipeline is said to be the largest sustainable trans-emirate pipeline in the country.

The pipeline has a peak carrying capacity of 50m gallons per day and supplies water to customers including Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), and through its connected network to Federal Electricity & Water Authority (FEWA), Utico said in a statement.

According to Utico, the pipeline has lower sweating, greater soil movement durability, higher temperatures operation and longer life. These factors are said to contribute to lower energy costs for its operations and a lower carbon footprint.

“The pipeline can be used to pump at both ends or connect in between enabling each emirate to trade water. It also facilitates instant water supply to each Emirate when connected. The investment in the pipeline was only possible due to the firm belief in the future of the UAE as a country of opportunities and in its dynamic visionary leadership,” said Richard Menezes, CEO of Utico.

Menezes said the pipeline is the first of its kind in the country with regards to its size and design. It was built with complete PE 100 HDPE, which is said to make it the most efficient in the country. This project is in line with the sustainability parameters identified for climate change mitigation in generation and transport networks, at the climate change Summit COP24 meeting in Poland.

Utico owns over 76m gallons per day (MIGD) of desalination capacity including 40MIGD under construction due for commissioning in 2019/2020. The firm says it is the first private utility to invest in this capital intensive high technology space and be successful sustainably.